Exercise 2: Adding Free Curves and Spirals to an Alignment

In this exercise, you will add a free curve and a free spiral-curve-spiral to a simple alignment.

The drawing contains a simple alignment consisting of three tangents. In the next few steps, you will add free curves at circles B and C.

This exercise continues from Exercise 1: Creating an Alignment with the Alignment Layout Tools.

Add a free curve between two tangents

1. Open Align-2.dwg, which is located in the tutorials drawings folder.
2. Set your drawing window so that you can see circles B and C on the surface.
3. If the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar is not open, select the alignment. Right-click and click Edit Alignment Geometry.
4. In the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar, click the drop-down list . Select Free Curve Fillet (Between Two Entities, Radius).
5. As prompted on the command line, click the tangent that enters circle B from the left (the ‘first entity’).
6. Click the tangent that exits from circle B on the right (the ‘next entity’).
7. Press Enter to select the default value of a curve less than 180 degrees.
8. Enter a radius value of 200. The curve is drawn between the tangents as specified.

Add a free spiral-curve-spiral between two tangents

1. In the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar, click the arrow next to . Select Free Spiral-Curve-Spiral (Between Two Entities).
2. As prompted on the command line, click the tangent that enters circle C from the left (the ‘first entity’).
3. Click the tangent that exits circle C on the right (the ‘next entity’).
4. Press Enter to select the default value of a curve less than 180 degrees.
5. Enter a radius value of 200.
6. Enter a spiral in length of 50.
7. Enter a spiral out length of 50.
   Note:

   Notice that default values that are shown on the command line.

8. Exit the layout command by right-clicking in the drawing area.

To continue this tutorial, go to Exercise 3: Adding Floating Curves to an Alignment.